Best Running Routes in Canberra 2026

Canberra's running geography is built directly into the city's original plan, with a lake and a land axis both dating back to Walter Burley Griffin's 1912 design for the national capital. Here are the best running routes in Canberra for 2026.

Lake Burley Griffin

The Central Loop around Lake Burley Griffin runs about 5 kilometres on a fully sealed shared path, flat and scenic, passing the Captain Cook Memorial Jet, the Parliamentary Triangle, Commonwealth Park and the National Carillon on Aspen Island. It also hosts the free Saturday Lake Burley Griffin parkrun, a 5 kilometre timed run starting at Weston Park. For longer distance, the full circuit runs 28 kilometres around the entire lake, passing Black Mountain Peninsula and the National Museum of Australia. The lake itself was created in 1964 when the Molonglo River was dammed, finally realising part of Griffin's original 1912 masterplan more than 50 years after it was adopted.

Mount Ainslie

The Kokoda Memorial Walk up Mount Ainslie runs about 1.9 to 2.25 kilometres one way, or roughly 4.3 kilometres return, on unsealed and part-paved fire trail with about 230 metres of elevation gain, starting near the Australian War Memorial in Remembrance Park and delivering the classic vista back down the land axis to Parliament House.

Red Hill Nature Reserve

Red Hill offers options from a 2.8 kilometre easy loop to a 10 kilometre Perimeter Loop, on a mix of fire trail and rocky forest track, with Davidson Trig and Red Hill Lookout giving 360 degree views over the Brindabella Ranges and Lake Burley Griffin, popular with local trail runners for hill-repeat training.

The Land Axis

The route from the Australian War Memorial to Parliament House along Anzac Parade and across Lake Burley Griffin runs roughly 4 to 5 kilometres one way on sealed paths and bridges, the iconic straight-line vista connecting the two national landmarks, heavily used by the Canberra Marathon and half-marathon courses.

Running the Canberra Times Marathon Festival Route

The Canberra Times Marathon Festival, held 11 and 12 April 2026 in the Parliamentary Triangle, loops past Parliament House, Telopea Park, Kings Avenue, Parkes Way past the War Memorial, State Circle, Adelaide Avenue, Weston Park and Alexandrina Drive beside the lake.

Practical Guide to Running in Canberra

The Lake Burley Griffin Central Loop is the most reliable choice for a flat, scenic run at any time of day; Mount Ainslie and Red Hill are worth the climb for anyone wanting genuine elevation and views.

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